Hamas welcomes Fayyad stepping down

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, seen here in 2007 at his inauguration in Ramallah.

Earlier this week, Fayyad resigned from his post following weeks of sparring with President Mahmoud Abbas.

Fayyad claims the government is being mismanaged, with officials doing little to fix a crippling economic crisis in the occupied West Bank.

The news that Fayyad, hailed in the West for state building efforts, handed in his resignation was met with dismay by Western powers but Hamas leaders welcomed the decision.

The group's Gaza spokesperson said Fayyad stood in the way of Hamas' reconciliation with Fatah, the ruling party in the West Bank.

The resignation comes amid renewed efforts by the United States to relaunch peace talks between Israel and Palestine, as well as boost the region's battered economy.

During a visit last month, U.S. President Barack Obama praised Fayyad's dedication to peace.

Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry also had tal